Japan · Account Transfer · Est. 1973
Japan's domestic interbank clearing network, one of the oldest electronic payment systems in the world, connecting over 1,000 banks. Originally batch-only; upgraded to 24/7 real-time in 2018 via the More Time System. Underpins consumer real-time transfers in every Japanese bank's mobile app, any-bank ATM transfers, and the bank-funding legs of major consumer wallets (PayPay, LINE Pay, Rakuten Pay, au PAY). Operated by the Japanese Bankers Association with settlement through the BOJ. Note: data includes all Zengin transactions (real-time and batch-processed).
Zengin is Japan’s real-time payment system (Account Transfer), launched in 1973. Japans domestic interbank clearing network, one of the oldest electronic payment systems in the world, connecting over 1,000 banks.
Zengin processed 2.0 billion transactions worth $28.6tn in 2025, a year-on-year change of +3.5%.
Zengin is operated by Japanese Bankers Association, with near-instant settlement.
Zengin launched in 1973, and today has 1,000 participating institutions.
Zengin is primarily an account-to-account transfer system.
Data source: Zengin-Net.
| Capability | Status |
|---|---|
| QR Code Payments | — |
| Wallet Support | — |
| 24/7 Availability | ✓ |
| Cross-Border | — |
| ISO 20022 | — |
| Request to Pay | — |
| Open API | — |
| Alias/Proxy | — |